41.

(a) Show that the specific activity of fuel irradiated for T days up to a burnup of B MWdlkg, t days after
removal from a reactor, is given by

[sol]
Fission product activity = 1.4 [ Ci…..(3.49)
Burnup rate = 1.05P g/day…(3.57) P g/day
The fission of 1g yields 1Mwd
B= =

PMw= B MWd/kg =

Mass of t operate on PMW for T days

=(P = (P

= =

(b) Compute and plot the specific activity for fuel irradiated for 3 years to a burnup of 33MWd/kg from 1 day to
1 year after removal from the reactor

[sol]
B= 33MWd/kg, T =.

i) t =1day

ii) t=365day

35000

30000

25000

α 20000

15000 계열1

10000

5000

0
2…
1…
1…
1…
1…
1…
2…
2…
2…
2…

3…
3…
3…
3…

t
1
21
41
61
81

42. The fission yields of and are 0.0593 atoms per fission, respectively. Calculate the specific
activity due to these nuclides and to in spent fuel irradiated to 33MWd/kg from the time the fuel is
removed from the reactor up to 1,000 years.

[sol]

Fission rate =2.7

For
N=2.7 33 0.0593=5.2836 / kg

1.5 Ci/kg

For
N=2.7 33 0.0623=5.551 / kg

= 1.5 /kg

For

43. Carbon-14, with a half-life of 5,730 years, is produced in LWRs by way of an (n,p) reaction with nitrogen
impurities (in both the fuel and the coolant water) and via an (n, ) reaction with . About 60 to 70 Ci of
are generated this way per GWeyear. (a) What is the total activity in the fuel unloaded each year from a
1 ,000MWe reactor that has operated with a 0.70 capacity factor? Assume that one third of the core is unloaded
each year. (b) How much will be produced per year in the year 2010 by all the reactors in the world if high
or low projections of Table 4.8 come to pass and all reactors are LWRs?
(a)

[sol] 0.7 capacity factor and 1/3 of the core is unloaded, the total activity is

0.7

b)

[sol]
assuming that about 65Ci of one generated per GWe
i) for low projections
activity = 65
N= =
M= =12390g=12.39kg
ii) for high projections

activity = 65

N=

M= =17.49kg
Chapter 5
Neutron Diffusion
and Moderation
1. A point source emits S neutron/sec isotropically in an finite vacuum.
(a) Show that the neutron flux at the distance r from the source is given by

[sol] It is important to note that this solution is quite different than would be obtained for a point source
in a vacuum. This difference occurs since the diffusing media both absorbs and scatters neutrons, whereas
a vacuum does not.

So,

(b) What is the neutron current density vector at the same point? [Note: Neutrons do not diffuse in a vacuum.]

[sol]

2. Three isotopic neutron source, each emitting S neutons/sec, are located in an infinite vacuum at the three
corners of an equilateral triangle of side a. Find the flux and current at the midpoint of one side.

[sol] reference problem (Example 5.3)

The flux 2/a

The current,

(Due to characteristics of vector, other two currents are canceling each other.)

3. Using Eqs. (5.10) and (5.11), estimate the diffusion coefficients of (a) beryllium, (b) graphite, for
monoenergetic 0.0253 eV neutrons.

[sol] Equ 5. 10 and 11 :

(a) Beryllium

(b) Graphite

4. The neutron flux in a bare spherical reactor of spherical reactor of radius 50 cm is given by

where r is measured from the center of the reactor. The diffusion coefficient for the system is 0.80 cm. (a) What
is the maximum value of the flux in the reactor? (b) Calculate the neutron current density as a function of
position in the reactor. (c) How many neutrons escape from the reactor per second?

[sol] (a)
(b)

(c) Leakage rate

5. Isotope point sources each emitting S neutrons/sec are placed in an infinite moderator at the four corners of a
square of side a. Compute the flux and current at the midpoint of any side of the square and at its center.
a
[sol] S1 S2
P2
(a) P1

S4
S3

J4 J1

θ
P1

(b) at P1

at P2

6. Find expressions for the flux and current at the point P2 in Fig. 5.5

[sol]
(a)
(b)

7. An isotropic point source emits S neutrons/sec in a n infinite moderator.

(a) Compute the net number of neutrons passing per second through a spherical surface of radius r centered
on the source.

[sol]
… (Eq 5.33)
 net number of neutrons passing per second through a spherical surface of radius r centered
=

(b) Compute the number of neutrons absorbed per second within the sphere.

[sol]

(c) Verify the equation of continuity for the volume within the sphere.

[sol]

8. Two infinite planar sources each emitting S neutrons/cm2 are placed parallel to one another in an infinite
moderator at the distance a apart. Calculate the flux and current as a function of distance from a plane midway
between the two.

[sol]
i) flux is scalar factor. So the flux at x =0

ii) from the planar source, current vetors have same magnitude and opposite direction. So current at x = 0
is zero.
J(o) = 0

9. Suppose the two planar sources in the preceding problem are placed at right angles to one another. Derive
expressions for the flux and current as a function of distance from the line of intersection of the sources in a
plane bisecting the angle between the sources.

[sol]
Flux from the distance r
,

10 An infinite moderator contains unifonnly distributed isotropic sources emitting S neutrons/cm3 -sec.
Detennine the steady-state flux and current at any point in the medium.

[sol]

Netron source in dv = Sdv

 , J(P)=0

11. An infinite bare slab of moderator of thickness 2a contains unifonnly distributed sources emitting S
neutrons/cm3 -sec. (a) Show that the flux in the slab is given by

where x is measured from the center of the slab. (b) Verify the equation of continuity by computing per unit
area of the slab the total number of neutrons (i) produced per sec within the slab; (ii) absorbed per second within
the slab; and (iii) escaping per second from the slab. [Hint: The solution to an inhomogeneous differential
equation is the sum of solutions to the homogeneous equation plus a particular solution. Try a constant for the
particular solution.]

[sol]
(a)

At slab geometry

i) homogeneous solution

ii) particular solution

0-

boundary condition
i)

Sinhx = -sinh(-x), conshx = cosh(-x), A=0

ii)
,

(b)
i) S neutron / -sec
ii)
iii) J(x) = -D
 DivJ - D =S

Continuity Eq

12. A point source emitting S neutrons/sec is placed at the center of a sphere of

moderator of radius R. (a) Show that the flux in the sphere is given by

where r is the distance from the source.

[sol]
No source with r
, --------
Let w=r
----------- B

Boundary condition

------- C

C B
------------ D
B.C
---------------------------- E

(-D) = -4
--------- F

F D

(b) Show that the number of neutrons leaking per second from the surface of the sphere is given by

No.Leaking/sec =

[sol]
J(r)= -D
d/L
cosh(d/L) , sinh(d/L)

[ =

(c) What is the probability that a neutron emitted by the source escapes from the surface?

[sol]
P=

13. An infinite planar source emitting S neutrons/cm2-sec is placed between infinite slabs of beryllium and
graphite of thickness a and b, respectively, as shown in Fig. 5.9. Derive an expression for the neutron flux in the
system. [Note: Since the media are different on opposite sides of the source, this problem is not symmetric and
the source condition Eq. (5.28) is not valid. The appropriate boundary conditions for this problem are

(i) limx→0[Ø(x > 0) – Ø(x < 0)] = 0

(ii) limx→0[J(x > 0) – J(x < 0)] = S

Condition (i) states, in effect, that Ø is continuous at the source, whereas (ii) accounts for the neutrons emitted
from the source.]

[sol] - Ø = 0, x ≠ 0 <Eq. 5.25>

general solutions : Ø(x < 0) = C1cosh + C2sinh
Ø(x > 0) = C3cosh + C4sinh
Let, = a + d1, = b + d2
Boundary Condition 1 : Ø1(- ) = 0, Ø2( ) = 0
Ø1(- ) = C1cosh - C2sinh = 0

C2 = C 1

Ø2( ) = C3cosh + C4sinh =0

C4 = -C3

Ø(x < 0) = C1(cosh + sinh )

 Ø(x > 0) = C3(cosh - sinh )

Boundary Condition 2 : limx→0[Ø(x > 0) – Ø(x < 0)] = 0

limx→0[C3(cosh - sinh ) – C1(cosh + sinh )] = 0

C3(1 - 0) – C1(1 – 0) = 0, C3 = C1

Ø(x < 0) = C1(cosh + sinh )

Ø(x > 0) = C1(cosh - sinh )

Boundary Condition 3 : limx→0[J(x > 0) – J(x < 0)] = S

limx→0[-D2C1 (sinh - cosh ) + D1C1 (sinh + cosh )] = S

D 2C 1 + D1C1 =S

C1 =

Solution :

Ø(x < 0) = (cosh + sinh )

= (cosh + sinh )

Ø(x > 0) = (cosh - sinh )

= (cosh - sinh )

14. A sphere of moderator of radius R contains uniformly distributed sources emitting S neutrons/cm 3-sec. (a)
show that the flux in the sphere is given by

Ø= [1 – ]

(b) Derive an expression for the current density at any point in the sphere. (c) How many neutrons leak from the
sphere per second? (d) What is the average probability that a source neutron will escape from the sphere?

[sol] (a) r2 - Ø=- <Eq. 5.19, 5.30>

Let, w = rØ
- w=-
(i) if homogeneous,
Wh = Asinh + Bcosh
Øh = sinh + cosh
 (ii) if particular
Wp = Cr
- w=-
0- =-
Wp =
Øp =
Ø = Øh + Øp
= sinh + cosh +
Boundary Condition 1 : = finite
Ø=0+ + = finite
B=0
Ø = sinh +
Boundary Condition 2 : Ø(R + d) = 0
sinh + =0
A=-

Ø= (1 – ) <L2 = >

= (1 – )

(b) current density J <Eq. 5.8>

= -D Ø = -D { (1 – )}

= -D{- (-r-2 + r-1 cosh )}

= ( - )

(c) leakage rate

= 4 R2 J
= 4 R2 ( - ) neutrons/s

(d) The probability that a neutron escapes is equal to the number that escape per cm 2/sec divided
by the number emitted per cm2/sec by the source
The number that escape per cm2/sec = 4 R2 ( - )
The number emitted per cm2/sec by the source = S
The probability that a neutron escapes =

= 4 R2 ( - )

15. The three-group fluxes for a base spherical fast reactor of radius R = 50 cm are given by the following
expressions:

Ø1(r) = sin (
Ø2(r) = sin (
Ø3(r) = sin ( .

The group-diffusion coefficients are D1 = 2.2 cm, D2 = 1.7 cm, and D3 = 1.05 cm. Calculate the total leakage of
neutrons from the reactor in all three groups. [Note: Ignore the extrapolation distance.]

[sol] leakage in group g : div·J

Total leakage of neutrons : = - D1 2Ø1 – D2 2Ø2 – D3 2Ø3
2
Ø1 = { sin ( }
15 -1
= (3 10 ) { (r sin )}
= (3 1015) (-r-2sin + r-1 cos )
=3 1015 (2r-3sin - r-2 cos - r-2 cos + r-1 (-sin ))
<Ignore the extrapolation distance>
=3 1015 ( + )=
2 2
Ø2 = , Ø3 =
Total leakage of neutrons = -2.2 - 1.7 - 1.05
12
= -2.57 10 neutrons

16. The thermal flux in the center of a beam tube of a certain reactor is 2 1013 neutrons/cm2-sec. The
temperature in this region is 150°C. Calculate (a) the thermal neutrons density; (b) the energy ET; (c) the 2,200
meters-per-second flux.

[sol] (a) ØT = nvT <Eq. 5.56>

n=
vT = 1.284T1/2 104 cm/sec <Eq. 5.55>
= 1.284(273 + 150)1/2 104 cm/sec
5
= 2.64 10 cm/sec
n = (2 × 1013 neutrons/cm2-sec × ) / (2 2.64 105 cm/sec)
= 6.71 107 neutrons/cm3

(b) ET = 8.617T 10-5 eV <Eq. 5.54>

= 8.617(273 + 150) 10-5 eV
= 0.0345 eV

(c) Ø0 = nv0 <Page 253>

= 6.71 107 neutrons/cm3 2.2 105 cm/sec
= 1.48 1013 neutrons/cm2-sec

17. The thermal flux at the center of a graphite research reactor is 5 1012 neutrons/cm2-sec. The temperature
of the system at this point is 120°C. Compare the neutron density at this point with the atom density of the
graphite.

[sol] ØT = nvT <Eq. 5.56>

n=
vT = 1.284T1/2 104 cm/sec <Eq. 5.55>
= 1.284(273 + 120)1/2 104 cm/sec
5
= 2.55 10 cm/sec
n = (5 × 1012 neutrons/cm2-sec × ) / (2 2.55 105 cm/sec)
= 1.74 107 neutrons/cm3
atom density of the graphite = (1.6 g/cm3 0.6022 1024 atoms) / 12g <1.6 g/cm3 – Page 254>
22 3
= 8.03 10 atoms/cm

18. The thermal flux in a bare cubical reactor is given approximately by the function
 ØT(x, y, z) = A cos ( ) cos ( ) cos ( ),

where A is a constant, a is the length of a side of the cube, ã is a plus 2d, d is the extrapolation distance, and x, y,
and z are measured from the center of the reactor. Derive expressions for the (a) thermal neutron current as a
function of position in the reactor; (b) number of thermal neutrons leaking per second from each side of the
reactor; and (c) total number of thermal neutrons leaking per second from the reactor.

[sol] (a) thermal neutron current J

= -D Ø
J(x,y,z) = -D( i + j + k)Ø(x,y,z)
= -D Ø(x,y,z)i - D Ø(x,y,z)j - D Ø(x,y,z)k
= -D {Acos( )cos( )cos( )}i
- D {Acos( )cos( )cos( )}j
- D {Acos( )cos( )cos( )}k
= DA {sin( )cos( )cos( )i + cos( )sin( )cos( )j + cos( )cos( )sin( )k}

(b) each six surface is same.

number of thermal neutrons leaking per second from each side of the reactor
=

= dz

= { - { -
= DA × 2 × × 2= neutrons/sec

(c) total number of thermal neutrons leaking per second from the reactor
=6 × = neutrons/sec

19. A planar source at the center of an infinite slab of graphite 2 meters thick emits 10 8 thermal neutrons per
cm2/sec. Given that the system is at room temperature, calculate the: (a) total number of thermal neutrons in the
slab per cm2 at any time; (b) number of thermal neutrons absorbed per cm2/sec of the slab; (c) neutron current as
a function of position in the slab; (d) total number of neutrons leaking per cm 2/sec from the two surfaces of the
slab; (e) probability that a source neutron does not leak from the slab.

[sol] (a)

-2AL

(b)

(c)
 𝟐𝐒 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐡[𝐝/𝐋] 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐡[𝟏.𝟕𝟖𝟗𝟐/𝟓𝟗.𝟏𝟔𝟎𝟖]
(d) 𝟐𝐉(𝐚) = = (𝟏𝟎𝟖 #/𝐜𝐦𝟐 ∙ 𝐬) = 𝟑. 𝟒𝟔𝟗𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎𝟕 #/𝐜𝐦𝟐 ∙ 𝐬
𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐡[(𝐚 𝐝)/𝐋] 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐡[(𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟏.𝟕𝟖𝟗𝟐)/𝟓𝟗.𝟏𝟔𝟎𝟖]

𝟐𝐉(𝐚) 𝟑.𝟒𝟔𝟗𝟖×𝟏𝟎𝟕 #/𝐜𝐦𝟐 ∙𝐬

(e) Probability 𝟏− =𝟏− = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟓𝟑
𝐒 𝟏𝟎𝟖 #/𝐜𝐦𝟐 ∙𝐬

20. The thermal flux in a bare cubical reactor of side a = 800cm is given by the expression

π π π
ϕ (x, y, z) = 2 × 10 cos cos cos ,
where x,y, and z are measured from the center of the reactor and a = a + 2d. The temperature is 400°C, and the
measured values of the thermal diffusion coefficient and diffusion length are 0.84cm and 17.5cm, respectively.
(a) How many moles of thermal neutrons are there in the entire reactor? (b) Calculate the neutron current
density vector as a function of position in the reactor. (c) How many thermal neutrons leak from the reactor per
second? (d) How many thermal neutrons are absorbed in the reactor per second? (e) What is the relative
probability that a thermal neutron will leak from the reactor?

[sol] (a) 𝐯𝐓 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟖𝟒𝐓 𝟏/𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟒 𝐜𝐦/𝐬

= 𝟏. 𝟐𝟖𝟒 × (𝟔𝟕𝟑)𝟏/𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟒 𝐜𝐦/𝐬 = 𝟑. 𝟑𝟑𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝐜𝐦/𝐬

𝛟𝟎 √𝛑 𝐯𝟎
= ⇐ 𝛟𝟎 = 𝐧𝐯𝟎
𝛟𝐓 𝟐 𝐯𝐓

𝟏𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝛑𝐱 𝛑𝐲 𝛑𝐳
√𝛑 𝛟𝐓 √𝛑 𝟐×𝟏𝟎 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐚 𝛑𝐱 𝛑𝐲 𝛑𝐳
∴𝐧= = 𝐚
= (𝟓. 𝟑𝟐𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟔 ) 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐬
𝟐 𝐯𝐓 𝟐 𝟑.𝟑𝟑𝟏×𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟓 𝐚 𝐚 𝐚

𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝛑𝐱 𝛑𝐲 𝛑𝐳
(Total #)= ∭ 𝐧 𝐝𝐕 = ∫𝐚𝟐 ∫𝐚𝟐 ∫𝐚𝟐(𝟓. 𝟑𝟐𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟔 ) 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐝𝐱𝐝𝐲𝐝𝐳
𝐚 𝐚 𝐚
𝐚 𝐚 𝐚
𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝟑
𝐚 𝛑𝐱
= (𝟓. 𝟑𝟐𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟔 ) 𝐬𝐢𝐧
𝛑 𝐚 𝟒𝟎𝟎
𝟑 𝟑
𝟔 ) 𝟖𝟎𝟑.𝟓𝟕𝟖𝟒 𝛑×𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝛑× 𝟒𝟎𝟎
= (𝟓. 𝟑𝟐𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎 𝐬𝐢𝐧 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧
𝛑 𝟖𝟎𝟑.𝟓𝟕𝟖𝟒 𝟖𝟎𝟑.𝟓𝟕𝟖𝟒
𝟏𝟐
= 𝟒. 𝟖𝟔𝟎𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐬

𝟏𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞
𝟒. 𝟖𝟔𝟎𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟐 × = 𝟖. 𝟎𝟕𝟎𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟐
𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬
𝟎.𝟔𝟎𝟐𝟐×𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟒

𝛛𝛟 𝛛𝛟 𝛛𝛟 𝛛𝛟 𝛛𝛟 𝛛𝛟
(b) 𝐉̅(𝐱, 𝐲, 𝐳) = −𝐃 ̂−𝐃 ̂−𝐃 𝐤 = −𝐃 ̂+ ̂+ 𝐤
𝛛𝐱 𝛛𝐲 𝛛𝐳 𝛛𝐱 𝛛𝐲 𝛛𝐳

𝛑 𝛑𝐱 𝛑𝐲 𝛑𝐳 𝛑 𝛑𝐱 𝛑𝐲 𝛑𝐳
= −(𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟐 )𝐃 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐬 ̂ + − 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐬 ̂+
𝐚 𝐚 𝐚 𝐚 𝐚 𝐚 𝐚 𝐚
𝛑 𝛑𝐱 𝛑𝐲 𝛑𝐳
− 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐤
𝐚 𝐚 𝐚 𝐚

𝟐×𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟐 𝛑𝐃 𝛑𝐱 𝛑𝐲 𝛑𝐳 𝛑𝐱 𝛑𝐲 𝛑𝐳
= 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐬 ̂ + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐬 ̂+
𝐚 𝐚 𝐚 𝐚 𝐚 𝐚 𝐚
𝛑𝐱 𝛑𝐲 𝛑𝐳
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐤
𝐚 𝐚 𝐚

𝐚/𝟐 𝐚/𝟐
(c) Leakage rate= ∫𝐀 𝐉⃗ ∙ 𝐧⃗𝐝𝐀 = ∫ 𝐚/𝟐 ∫ 𝐚/𝟐 𝐉⃗ ∙ ̂𝐝𝐲𝐝𝐳

𝟐
𝟐×𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟐 𝛑𝐃 𝛑𝐱 𝐚 𝛑𝐲 𝐚/𝟐
= 𝐬𝐢𝐧 ∙ 𝐬𝐢𝐧
𝐚 𝐚 𝐱 𝟐/𝐚 𝛑 𝐚 𝐚/𝟐

= 𝟑. 𝟒𝟗𝟑𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟎 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐬/𝐬

∴ 𝟔𝐉 = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟗𝟔𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐬/𝐬

𝐚/𝟐 𝐚/𝟐 𝐚/𝟐 𝛑𝐱 𝛑𝐲 𝛑𝐳

(d) Absorption rate= ∫𝐕 𝚺𝐚 𝛟𝐝𝐕 = 𝚺𝐚 ∫ 𝐚/𝟐
∫ 𝐚/𝟐 ∫ 𝐚/𝟐(𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟐 ) 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐝𝐱𝐝𝐲𝐝𝐳
𝐚 𝐚 𝐚
 𝟑
𝐚 𝛑𝐱 𝟒𝟎𝟎
= (𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟐 )𝚺𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐧 = 𝟐. 𝟐𝟖𝟏𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐬/𝐬
𝛑 𝐚 𝟒𝟎𝟎

𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐.𝟐𝟖𝟏𝟔×𝟏𝟎𝟖
(e) = = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏
𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝟐.𝟎𝟗𝟔𝟏×𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟏

21. The thermal (0.0253 eV) cross-section for the production of a 54-minute isomer of 116In via the (n, γ)
reaction with 115In is 157b. A thin indium foil weighing 0.15g is placed in the beam tube described in Problem
5.16. (a) At what rate are thermal neutrons absorbed by the foil? (b)
After 1 hour in the beam tube, what is the 54-minute activity of 116In? [Note: 115In has an isotopic abundance of
95.7% and is a non-1/ν absorber.]

[sol] (Table II.3) 𝚺𝐚 = 𝟕. 𝟒𝟏𝟗𝐜𝐦 𝟏

(Table 3.2) 𝐠 𝐚 (𝟏𝟓𝟎°𝐂) = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟒

√𝛑 𝐓 𝟏/𝟐
(a) 𝚺𝐚 = 𝐠 (𝐓)𝚺𝐚 (𝐄𝟎 ) 𝟎
𝟐 𝐚 𝐓

= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟐𝟔𝟒𝟖𝐜𝐦 𝟏
∴ 𝚺𝐚 𝛟𝐓 = (𝟓. 𝟕𝟐𝟔𝟒𝟖𝐜𝐦 𝟏 )(𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟑 #/𝐜𝐦𝟐 ∙ 𝐬) = 𝟏. 𝟏𝟒𝟓𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟒 #/𝐜𝐦𝟑 ∙ 𝐬

𝟏𝟏𝟓 𝟏𝟏𝟔
(b) 𝐈𝐧 + 𝐧 → 𝐈𝐧 + 𝛄

𝐓𝟏,𝟏𝟏𝟓𝐈𝐧 = 𝟒. 𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟒 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐓𝟏,𝟏𝟏𝟔𝐈𝐧 = 𝟓𝟒𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬

𝟐 𝟐

𝛌𝐁 𝐭 𝛂𝐀𝟎 𝛌𝐁 𝛌𝐀 𝐭 𝛌𝐁 𝐭 𝛌𝐀 𝐭 𝛌𝐀 𝐭
𝚨𝐁 = 𝛂𝐁𝟎 𝐞 + 𝐞 −𝐞 = 𝛂𝐀𝟎 𝐞 = 𝛌𝐀 𝐧𝐀 𝐞 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟑𝟕𝟔𝟏𝟏𝐝𝐢𝐬/𝐬
𝛌𝐁 𝛌𝐀
𝟏𝟐
= 𝟏. 𝟎𝟏𝟔𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎 𝐂𝐢

22. The thermal flux in a bare spherical reactor 1m in diameter is given approximately by

.
ϕ (r) = 2.29 × 10 neutrons/cm2-sec.

If the reactor is moderated and cooled by unit density water that takes up to one-third of the reactor volume, how
many grams of 2H are produced per year in the reactor? Assume that the water is only slightly warmed by the
heat of the reactor.

[sol] Table II.3 𝛔𝐚,𝐇 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟑𝟐𝐛, 𝐌𝐇𝟐𝐎 = 𝟏𝟖. 𝟎𝟏𝟓𝟑

𝟏 𝟏 𝟐
𝟏𝐇 + 𝟎𝐧 → 𝟏𝐇 + 𝛄

𝟒
(Absorption rate) = ∫𝐕 𝚺𝐚 𝛟𝐓 (𝐫)𝐝𝐕 ← 𝛑𝐫 𝟑 𝐝𝐕 = 𝟒𝛑𝐫 𝟐 𝐝𝐫
𝟑
𝟓𝟎
= ∫𝟎 𝚺𝐚 𝛟𝐓 (𝐫) ∙ 𝟒𝛑𝐫 𝟐 𝐝𝐫

𝟏𝐠/𝐜𝐦𝟑 𝟎.𝟔𝟎𝟐𝟐×𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝟏
𝐍𝐇′ 𝟐𝐎 = = 𝟑. 𝟑𝟒𝟐𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟐 #/𝐜𝐦𝟑 , ∴ 𝐍𝐇𝟐 𝐎 = 𝐍𝐇′ 𝟐𝐎 = 𝟏. 𝟏𝟏𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟐 #/𝐜𝐦𝟑
𝟏𝟖.𝟎𝟏𝟓𝟑 𝟑

𝐍𝐇 = 𝟐𝐍𝐇𝟐𝐎 = 𝟐. 𝟐𝟐𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟐 #/𝐜𝐦𝟑

∴ 𝚺𝐚 = 𝐍𝐇 𝛔𝐚,𝐇 = (𝟐. 𝟐𝟐𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟐 #/𝐜𝐦𝟑 ) ∙ (𝟎. 𝟑𝟑𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎 𝟐𝟒
𝐜𝐦𝟐 ) = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟒𝐜𝐦 𝟏

𝟓𝟎
∴(Absorption rate) = ∫𝟎 𝚺𝐚 𝛟𝐓 (𝐫) ∙ 𝟒𝛑𝐫 𝟐 𝐝𝐫
𝟓𝟎 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟎.𝟎𝟔𝟐𝟖𝐫
= ∫𝟎 (𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟒)(𝟒𝛑)(𝟐. 𝟐𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟒 ) × 𝐫 𝟐 𝐝𝐫
𝐫
𝟑𝟔𝟎𝟎𝐬
= 𝟏. 𝟔𝟗𝟗𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟔 #/𝐬 × 𝟑𝟔𝟓𝐝𝐚𝐲/𝐲𝐫 × 𝟐𝟒𝐡𝐫/𝐝𝐚𝐲 × = 𝟓. 𝟑𝟓𝟖𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟑 #/𝐲𝐫
𝐡𝐫

𝟐 𝟐𝐠/𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞
∴ 𝐇 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 = (𝟓. 𝟑𝟓𝟖𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟑 #/𝐲𝐫) × = 𝟏. 𝟕𝟕𝟗𝟖𝐠/𝐲𝐫
𝟎.𝟔𝟎𝟐𝟐×𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟒 #/𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞
23. Tritium (3H) is produced in nuclear reactors by the absorption of thermal neutrons by 6Li via the reaction
6
Li(n,α)3H. The cross-section for this reaction at 0.0253eV is 940b and it is 1/ν. (a) Show that the annual
production of 3H in a thermal flux ϕ , per gram of 6Li, is given by

Production rate/g = 2.28 × 10 ϕ atoms/g-yr.

(b) Compute the annual production in curies of 3H per gram of 6Li in a flux of ϕ = 1 × 10 neutrons/cm2-
sec.

𝟔
[sol] 𝐋𝐢 + 𝐧 → 𝟑𝐇 + 𝛂 𝛔 = 𝟗𝟒𝟎𝐛 (𝐄 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟓𝟑𝐞𝐕)

𝟔
(a) Production rate=absorption rate of thermal neutrons by 𝐋𝐢

√𝛑 𝐓 𝟏/𝟐
𝚺𝐚 𝛟𝐓 = 𝐠 (𝐓)𝚺𝐚 (𝐄𝟎 ) 𝟎 𝛟𝐓 =1.22× 𝟏𝟎𝟗 𝛟𝐓 𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬/𝐠 ∙ 𝐲𝐫
𝟐 𝐚 𝐓

(b) 𝛟𝐓 = 𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟒 #/𝐜𝐦𝟐 ∙ 𝐬

𝟏𝐂𝐢
Production=𝟑𝟖. 𝟔𝟕𝟕 × (𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟒 #/𝐜𝐦𝟐 ∙ 𝐬) × = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟒𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎 𝟓 𝐂𝐢/𝐠
𝟑.𝟕×𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟎 #/𝐬

24. A radioactive sample with half-life T / is placed in a thermal reactor at a point where the thermal flux is
ϕ . Show that the sample disappears as the result of its own decay and by neutron absorption with an effective
half-life given by
1 1 σ ϕ
= + ,
T/ T/ ln2

where σ is the average thermal absorption cross-section of the sample.

[sol] 𝛂𝐞𝐟𝐟 = 𝛌𝐞𝐟𝐟 𝐍 = 𝛌𝐍 + 𝚺𝐚 𝛟𝐓 = 𝛌𝐍 + 𝐍𝛔𝐚 𝛟𝐓 = 𝐍(𝛌 + 𝛔𝐚 𝛟𝐓 )

𝐥𝐧𝟐 𝐥𝐧𝟐
∴ 𝛌𝐞𝐟𝐟 = 𝛌 + 𝛔𝐚 𝛟𝐓 , ← 𝛌𝐞𝐟𝐟 = , 𝛌=
𝐓 𝟏 𝐓𝟏
𝐞𝐟𝐟,𝟐 𝟐

𝟏 𝟏 𝛔𝐚 𝛟𝐓
∴ = +
𝐓𝟏 𝐓𝟏 𝐥𝐧𝟐
𝟐 𝐞𝐟𝐟 𝟐

25. Calculate the thermal diffusion coefficient and diffusion length of water near the outlet of a pressurized-
water reactor, that is at about 300°C and density of 0.68g/cm3.

[sol]
𝐃(ρo, To)=0.16cm, ρo =1g/cm3, ρ=0.68g/cm3
T= 300+273=573°K, To = 293°K, m=0.470
L2T (ρo, To)=8.1cm2
i) 𝐃 (ρ, T)= 𝐃 (ρo, To)(ρo/ρ)(T/ To)m
= 0.16ⅹ(1/0.68)(533/293)0.470=0.312cm
ii) L2T (ρ, T)= L2T (ρo, To) (ρo/ρ)2(T/ To)m+1/2
=8.1ⅹ(1/0.68) 2 (533/293)0.970
=23.2cm2
LT (ρ, T)=4.8cm

26. Calculate the for natural uranium at room temperature and 350°C the value of ∑a, D, and LT. The measured
value of LT at room temperature is 1.55 cm. [Note: The value of σs is constant at low neutron energies and is
approximately the same for 235U and 238U. The densities of U at 350°C and room temperature are essentially
the same]

[sol]
ρ= ρo , To=293°K , T=623°K, m=0 , σa(235U)=680.8b, σa(238U)=2.70b
∑s=0.4301cm -1

ga(T)→ i) for 235U, 0.9780 at To , 0.9335 at T

ii) for 239U, 1.0017 at To , 1.0067 at T
σa(235U)=680.8b , σa(238U)=2.70b
i) 𝐃(ρo, To)= λtr/3 =1/3∑s(1-𝛍)
=1/3ⅹ0.4301ⅹ(1-2.801ⅹ10-3), where -𝛍 =2/3ⅹ238=1-2.801ⅹ10-3
=0.777cm-1
ii) L2T (ρo, To)=1.552=2.4025cm2
L2T (ρ, T)= )= L2T (ρo, To) (ρo/ρ)2(T/ To)m+1/2
= 2.4025ⅹ(693/293)1/2=3.5cm2 , LT =1.87cm
iii) ∑𝐚(To)=√𝛑/𝟐 ⅹ [ga(To) ∑a(Eo) (To / To) ]
1/2
N(U)=0.04833ⅹ1024#/cm3
= √𝛑/𝟐(g235aN(235U) σa(235U)+ g238aN(238U) σa(238U)
= √𝛑/𝟐(0.9780ⅹ0.0072ⅹ0.04833ⅹ680.8+1.0017ⅹ0.9927ⅹ0.04833ⅹ2.70)
= 0.32 cm-1
∑𝐚(T)= √𝛑/𝟐ga(To) ∑a(Eo) (To/T) 1/2
=√𝛑/𝟐[(g235aN(235U) σa(235U)+ g238aN(238U) σa(238U)] ⅹ (293/623) 1/2
=√𝛑/𝟐[(0.9780ⅹ0.0072ⅹ0.04833ⅹ680.8+1.0017ⅹ0.9927ⅹ0.04833ⅹ2.70)]ⅹ(293/623) 1/2
=0.215 cm-1
∑𝐚(To)= 𝐃(ρo, To)/ L2T (ρo, To)=0.777/1.552=0.32cm-1
∑𝐚(T)= 𝐃(ρ, T)/ L2T (ρ, T)=0.777/3.5=0.22cm-1

27. Repeat the calculation of problem 5.26 for U enriched to 2 weight/percent in 235U.

[sol]
Volume percent of 235U
= [(0.02ⅹ235.0439+0.98ⅹ238.0508)/235.0439] ⅹ0.02=0.0203
=2.03percent

σs(235U)= σs(238U)= σs at low energy

∑s= N(235U) σs(235U)+ N(238U) σs(238U)
= [N(235U) +N(238U)] ⅹ σs
=(19.1ⅹ 0.602217 ⅹ8.9)/0.01(2.03ⅹ235.0439+97.97ⅹ238.0508)=0.43015 cm-1

i) 𝐃(ρo, To)= λtr/3 =1/3∑s(1-𝛍)

=1/3ⅹ0.43015ⅹ(1-2.801ⅹ10-3), where -𝛍 =2/3ⅹ238=1-2.801ⅹ10-3
=0.777 cm-1

ii) L2T (ρo, To)=1.552=2.4025cm2

L2T (ρ, T) = L2T (ρo, To) (ρo/ρ)2(T/ To)m+1/2
= 2.4025ⅹ(693/293)1/2=3.5cm2 , LT =1.87cm
iii) ∑𝐚(To)=√𝛑/𝟐ga(To) ∑a(Eo) (To / To) 1/2 N(U)=0.04833ⅹ1024#/cm3
 = √𝛑/𝟐(g235aN(235U) σa(235U)+ g238aN(238U) σa(238U)
= √𝛑/𝟐(0.9780ⅹ0.0072ⅹ0.04833ⅹ680.8+1.0017ⅹ0.9927ⅹ0.04833ⅹ2.70)
= 0.32 cm-1
∑𝐚(T)= √𝛑/𝟐ga(To) ∑a(Eo) (To/T) 1/2
=√𝛑/𝟐[(g235aN(235U) σa(235U)+ g238aN(238U) σa(238U)] ⅹ (293/623) 1/2
=√𝛑/𝟐[(0.9780ⅹ0.0072ⅹ0.04833ⅹ680.8+1.0017ⅹ0.9927ⅹ0.04833ⅹ2.70)]ⅹ(293/623) 1/2
=0.215 cm-1
∑𝐚(To)= 𝐃(ρo, To)/ L2T (ρo, To)=0.777/1.552=0.32cm-1
∑𝐚(T)= 𝐃(ρ, T)/ L2T (ρ, T)=0.777/3.5=0.22cm-1

28. Compute and plot for mixtures of D2O and H2O, at H2O concentrations up to 5 weight/percent: (a) ∑a at
0.0523 eV; (b) LT at room temoerature.

[sol]
Let weight percent of H2O x, volume percent of H2O a
M=1/100[18.0153a+20.0276(100-a)]={[(x/18.0153)+(100-x)/(20.0276)] ⅹ1/100}-1
N=ρNA/M=(20.0276ⅹ0.6022ⅹ1024)/[10-2(2002.76-2.0123a)]=(12.06ⅹ1024)/(20.0276-0.020123a)

a={[(x/18.0153)+(100-x)/(20.0276)] ⅹ1/100}-1ⅹ(1/18.0153)x
= 995.259-(8.91ⅹ105/x+895.26)
i) ∑a= N(D2O) σa(D2O)+ N(H2O) σa(H2O)
=1/100[(100-a)N σa(D2O)+ a)+aN σa(H2O)]
=1/(2002.76-2.0123a) ⅹ[(100-a)0.00133+0.644a]
=(0.329a+0.066)/(a-995.259) a=995.259-(8.91ⅹ105/x+895.26)
=(327.442+5.189)/8.91ⅹ105
=3.675ⅹ10-4x+5.824ⅹ10-6
ii) 𝐃 ≈ 𝐃(D2O) =0.87cm
L2T =𝐃/∑a=𝐃/[√𝛑/𝟐ⅹga(T) ∑a(Eo) (To/T) 1/2]
=0.87/[√𝛑/𝟐ⅹ1ⅹ(3.675ⅹ10-4x+5.824ⅹ10-6) ⅹ1
=0.87/(3.257ⅹ10-4x+4.683ⅹ10-6)
=2.671ⅹ103/(x+0.0144)
LT =[2.671ⅹ103/(x+0.0144)]1/2

29. Calculate the thermal neutron diffusion length at room temperature in water solutions of boric
acid(H3BO3)at the following concentrations: (a) 10g/liter, (b) 1g/liter and (c) 0.1 g/liter. [Hint: Because of the
small concentration of the boric acid, the diffusion coefficient for the mixture is essentially the same as that of
pure water.]

[sol]
𝛒 ≈ 𝛒(H2O) =1g/cm3, 𝐃=0.16cm
Let weight percent of H3BO3 x, volume percent of H3BO3 a

M=1/100[18.0153(100-a)+(3∙1.00797+10.811+3∙15.9994)a]
= 0.438a+18.0153
= [(100-x)/(18.0153)+ (x/(3∙1.00797+10.811+3∙15.9994)]-1
N=ρNA/M=(0.60221024)/ (0.438a+18.0153) molecules/cm3
a=[(100-x)/(18.0153)+ (x/(61.833)]-1∙(x/61.833)
= 100x/(343.2-2.433x)

i) 10g/ cm3 = 0.01g/cm3 → 1 w/o

a=100/(343.2-2.433)=0.293
σa(B) ≈ σa( H3BO) = 759b

∑a= N(H2O) σa(H2O)+ N(H3BO3) σa(H3BO3)

=[(100-0.293)N σa(H2O) + 0.293 N σa(H3BO3)]∙1/100
N=(1ⅹ0.6022ⅹ1024)/ (0.438ⅹ0.293+18.0153)=0.0332ⅹ1024
∑a=[(100-0.293)∙0.0332∙0.664 + 0.293∙0.0332∙ 759]∙1/100
=0.0958cm-1

L2T =𝐃/∑a=𝟎. 𝟏𝟔/[√𝛑/𝟐ⅹga(T) ∑a(Eo) (To/T) 1/2]

=0.166/(√𝛑/𝟐·0.0958)
=1.884cm2
LT = 1.372cm

ii) 1g/ cm3 = 0.001g/cm3 → 0.1 w/o

a=100∙0.1/(343.2-2.433∙0.1)=0.029 w/o
N=(0.6022ⅹ1024)/ (0.438ⅹ0.029+18.0153)=0.0334ⅹ1024
∑a=[(100-0.029)∙0.0334∙0.664 + 0.029∙0.0334∙ 759]∙1/100
=0.0295cm-1

L2T =0.166/(√𝛑/𝟐·0.0295)
=6.12cm2
LT = 2.47cm

iii) 0.1g/ cm3 = 0.0001g/cm3 → 0.01 w/o

a=100∙0.01/(343.2-2.433∙0.01)=0.0029 w/o
N=(0.6022ⅹ1024)/ (0.438ⅹ0.0029+18.0153)=0.0334ⅹ1024
∑a=[(100-0.0029)∙0.0334∙0.664 + 0.0029∙0.0334∙ 759]∙1/100
=0.0229cm-1

L2T =0.166/(√𝛑/𝟐·0.0229)
=7.884cm2
LT = 2.8cm

30. An infinite slab of ordinary water 16 cm thick contains a planar source at its center emitting 108 thermal
neutrons per cm2/sec. Compute and plot the thermal flux within the slab.

𝐒𝐋𝐓 𝐞(𝐚 𝐝 |𝐱|)/𝐋𝐓 𝐞 (𝐚 𝐝 |𝐱|)/𝐋𝐓 𝐒𝐋𝐓 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐡[(𝐚 𝐝 |𝐱|)/𝐋𝐓

[sol] ∅𝐓 = =
𝟐𝐃 𝐞(𝐚 𝐝)/𝐋𝐓 𝐞 (𝐚 𝐝)/𝐋𝐓 𝟐𝐃 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐡[(𝐚 𝐝)/𝐋𝐓
Where) S=108cm2/sec, LT=2.85cm, 𝐃=0.16cm, a=8cm, d=2.13𝐃=0.341cm
𝐒𝐋𝐓 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐡[(𝐚 𝐝 |𝐱|)/𝐋𝐓 𝟏𝟎𝟖 ×𝟐.𝟖𝟓 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐡[(𝟖 𝟎.𝟑𝟒𝟏 |𝐱|)/𝟐.𝟖𝟓]
∅𝐓 = = × = 𝟗. 𝟓𝟏𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎𝟕 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐡(𝟐. 𝟗𝟐𝟕 − 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓𝟏|𝐱|)
𝟐𝐃 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐡[(𝐚 𝐝)/𝐋𝐓 𝟐×𝟎.𝟏𝟔 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐡[(𝟖 𝟎.𝟑𝟒𝟏)/𝟐.𝟖𝟓]